#-1: Timberwolves (Last Week: -3). Light Week with only two Games, but the T-Wolves won both, home over the LeBron-less Bastard Minneapolis Lakers at Target Center Friday the 13th (I thought I was saved from my conundrum about choosing not see James the first time he blew into town, but no such luck this time; he didn't even make the trip here, and officials with that squad are being cagey about what exactly is keeping him from playing) and then at San Antonio last/Sunday night. That tilt Friday wasn't great basketball, but since James wasn't playing, it felt as though Los Angeles didn't really have the heart to play, no matter how well Anthony Davis was individually.
With only five teams I have to write for this screening Week, I think it's time I finally weighted in with my thoughts about the Karl-Anthony Towns trade. Obviously it was to keep the organization from reaching the second apron and being subjected to transaction restrictions repeater fees, and that is understandable. (Aside: it's interesting to see so many fans act like front office people when it comes to improving their teams. They cheer on players, maybe even buy their jerseys, but once a player turns in a bad season, or even if there's a possibility of bringing in someone who fans think can boost their club's chances of winning, oh, they think they're a General Manager and they'll deal players like trading cards. I always find that kind of strange.) I really thought the Wolves were going to run it back with everyone, but apparently New York added enough for President Tim Connelly to pull the trigger on a trade that had some life to it over the 12 Months or so. They couldn't keep the core together much longer, and it was obvious KAT's contract would be the one to go. So, Connelly got younger, got better contracts, and (at least at the time) got the offensive creativity that was absent when his team was eliminated in last season's Western Conference Finals. Donte DiVincenzo can pop the 3 and can play some Defense; Julius Randle can create his own shot from inside the arc. I saw him create and make buckets out of nothing in the two Games at Target Center I've been to so far this Year.
But, chemistry is a thing, and the players remaining here say that Towns (as well as Kyle Anderson) provided a sense of sacrifice that bound the locker room together. That doesn't seem to be the case here, at least so far. A lot of it is the breaking down of Defense so far this Year. Neither DiVincenzo nor Randle (who, fair to say, isn't known for his D) hasn't held up their end on that end of the floor, a big reason (well, that and some serious regression from Rudy Gobert) Minnesota has become an average defensive team. Also, while Randle is very dependable for mid-range jumpers, once he gets the ball, it rarely comes out, and that gravity suck is throwing the offensive rhythm off. Now again, those cons might pale in comparison to the money the franchise doesn't have to pay KAT (who, by the way, isn't completely winning over Knicks fans because he hasn't been keeping up defensively for Tom Thibodeau in Manhattan). And Randle's contract is only guaranteed for this Year; he can be shipped or even waived (maybe?) after the season's over, thereby freeing Connelly to find someone else who might be both younger and cheaper. But right now, the T-Wolves are tied for sixth in a ridiculously awesome West, and they still have some work to do in-house.
This Week is just as light as last Week -- two Games only yet again, vs. ... hey, whaddaya know, Karl-Anthony Towns and the New York Knickerbockers Thursday, The Bastard Philadelphia Warriors Saturday, both at home.
#-3: Wild (Last Week: -1). Outlasted The Bastard Winnipeg Jets/Phoenix Coyotes in a Shootout in Salt Lake City Tuesday, then got routed 7-1 at home to Edmonton Thursday, then won comfortably at home Saturday afternoon over Philadelphia, then lost last/Sunday night at the X to Team Third Base/Bettman's Favorites/Team Privilege, aka The (Las) Vegas Golden Knights, 3-2, despite Kirill Kaprizov scoring his 22nd and 23rd Goals of the season. Man, KK is having what many are saying is a Hart Trophy-winning Year. Unfortunately, the Mild no longer co-lead in Points in the NHL. The Bastard Atlanta Thrashers got it back, even though Minnesota is just a single solitary Point behind (as is Washington). But that overthrow from that lofty perch has to be reflected here in the WMNSS.
They finish their four-Game homestand hosting Florida Wednesday and Utah Friday, then travelling up to Winnipeg the following evening.
#-4: Gopher men's hockey (Last Week: Positive Numbers). You can't get a bigger matchup early in the men's college hockey season than #1 versus either #2 or #3 (depending on which poll you look at). Sadly, the "worse"-ranked team, Michigan St., came into Mariucci and, in my mind, pulled off the sweep of the Gophs. Sure, Friday's contest technically ended in a Tie, but the Spartans won the Shootout and got the extra Point. I am more concerned about Saturday's effort, where they held a 3-1 lead but allowed Michigan St. to score four Goals in the back half of the Third Period (the last being an Empty Netter) to lose, 5-3. Yes, the Spartans are apparently a great team, and when you're ranked #1 in the country in this sport, you won't be #1 for long. But still, it's an early test for the U., and they didn't pass, and losing both at home kind of sucks. Especially since they don't get to write these wrongs with a Win on the ice until they host Mercyhurst (the last of four straight opponents they face at home) the first weekend of 2025.
#-5: Gopher men's basketball (Last Week: -5). I will presume Ben Johnson's a nice guy -- he is One Of Us, after all -- but unless something close to miraculous happens this season, he's on the hot seat. Indiana is a blue blood basketball brand, but they're not that good right now, and yet they handled the Goofers in Bloomington last Monday by 15. A return to the non-con will help temporarily; this team's only Game this screening Week is Saturday at home against Farleigh Dickinson. But how are these guys going to fare in the Big Ten?
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